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It's alive!

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 8:27 pm
by island time
Well as you know I've been working on many things along the way but as of 15 min ago the new engine lives!
I got everything hooked up temporarily and it fired right up without issues. I did not have water hooked up so it only ran long enough to check oil pressure and timing before I shut her down. I have a minor transmission leak which appears to be an o-ring, other than that I can't wait till tomorrow when I can hook up cooling and run her as long as I like.

Re: It's alive!

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 9:00 am
by drrot
CONGRATULATIONS! As always love the photos.

Re: It's alive!

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 11:57 am
by jfrprops
agree with Jim, always appreciate pics and especially ones that show such great progress!

Run the baby....

John in Va.

Re: It's alive!

Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:06 am
by island time
Well it's the little details that drive me nuts!
I've been plagued with little unforeseen things that are slowing my progress.
After the first fire the other night I had a transmission leak that turned out to be a faulty O-ring. Of course it's a special size and only available through Paragon. Another week goes by waiting for that then there is the fuel inlet fittings that I had to order and wait for along with a couple of trips to the auto parts store.
Next, a problem I've been dealing with ever since the new motor got here was the lack of clearance between the exhaust manifold and the head for the engine oil dipstick. I've searched for an original ChrisCraft tube which has enough bend to go around the outside of the exhaust log but to no avail. I also attempted to make one but could not create a smooth or long enough bend to get the stick through so I had to order and wait for exhaust manifold spacers which will give me enough room to run a stock Chevrolet tube between. Those will be here today but of course work gets in the way and I won't be able to work on it until tonight.
I know I mentioned before that my plan was to use 3" copper pipe for my exhaust and I may still but I know someone in the hose business and just for comparison he is checking pricing for me on hose with a molded-in reducer to go from 3" down to 2-1/2" exhaust riser outlet size.
It would be interesting to know how Chris Craft did that transition originally. As far as I know exhaust outlets were all 2-1/2" no matter whether small or big block engine and the original Commander exhaust tips were 3".
Anyway, I will post more as soon as there is anything new to report.

Craig Wilson

Re: It's alive!

Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 8:37 am
by tph
craig,
Barr makes a cast iron reducer for 3" to 2 1/2"
tph

Re: It's alive!

Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 3:28 pm
by island time
Interesting, I will look into that pending the pricetag on the molded hoses. Thanks

Re: It's alive!

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:46 pm
by jim g
island time wrote:Well it's the little details that drive me nuts!
I've been plagued with little unforeseen things that are slowing my progress.
After the first fire the other night I had a transmission leak that turned out to be a faulty O-ring. Of course it's a special size and only available through Paragon. Another week goes by waiting for that then there is the fuel inlet fittings that I had to order and wait for along with a couple of trips to the auto parts store.
Next, a problem I've been dealing with ever since the new motor got here was the lack of clearance between the exhaust manifold and the head for the engine oil dipstick. I've searched for an original ChrisCraft tube which has enough bend to go around the outside of the exhaust log but to no avail. I also attempted to make one but could not create a smooth or long enough bend to get the stick through so I had to order and wait for exhaust manifold spacers which will give me enough room to run a stock Chevrolet tube between. Those will be here today but of course work gets in the way and I won't be able to work on it until tonight.
I know I mentioned before that my plan was to use 3" copper pipe for my exhaust and I may still but I know someone in the hose business and just for comparison he is checking pricing for me on hose with a molded-in reducer to go from 3" down to 2-1/2" exhaust riser outlet size.
It would be interesting to know how Chris Craft did that transition originally. As far as I know exhaust outlets were all 2-1/2" no matter whether small or big block engine and the original Commander exhaust tips were 3".
Anyway, I will post more as soon as there is anything new to report.

Craig Wilson
The upper dipstick tube was made special for Chris Craft. The tube is flatten were it goes between the block and manifold. I bought several new ones about 10 years ago. I can see if there still available.

Re: It's alive!

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 7:09 am
by island time
Thanks Jim,
I resolved the problem by installing spacers between the heads and manifolds which created enough space so I could install a stock GM dipstick tube.

Craig